DISCERNMENT

A wise way to approach or to navigate our way through life is through the power of discernment. There are many different types of people in this world, and all have their own personalities and distinguishing characteristics. It is an important lesson for one to learn how to deal with the people that they interact with, and the power of discernment is a wonderful tool to have. Let’s read the definition found in Webster’s 1828:

DISCERN,

1. To separate by the eye, or by the understanding. Hence,

2. To distinguish; to see the difference between two or more things; to discriminate;

3. To make the difference.

4. To discover; to see; to distinguish by the eye.

5. To discover by the intellect; to distinguish; hence, to have knowledge of; to judge.

One of the wonderful things about the book of Proverbs, is that it teaches us to use discernment. It separates people according to their character traits. For instance,

I. The SIMPLE MAN. (Proverbs 1:22-33)

This is not a man who is born with physical disabilities, but rather a man who has CHOSEN NOT TO develop his mental potential. He is as Proverbs 7:7 says, "void of understanding."He is easily led and gullible. How do you deal with him? Well, he has to be taught boundaries in order to protect himself. He also has to decide to change his outlook on life. Unfortunately that might not happen until something unforseen happens and he realizes the direction he is headed. Pro.19:25, "Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge."

II. The SLOTHFUL MAN. (Proverbs 13:4 ; 24:30-34)

This guy is just lazy. He is not someone who has earned a rest due to putting in a hard days work. He is someone who is made being lazy (or late) a habit. This is a CHOSEN character flaw. How do you deal with him? Well, he needs some discipline in defining what his priorities are. He needs to learn how to plan ahead, and then determine in his heart that he is going to do whatever it takes to meet the goal! He’ll need someone, at first, to guide him when he faces tough decisions.

III. The SCORNFUL MAN. (Proverbs 19:28-29)

This is a man that just does not care about anything important in life. He is a deliberate troublemaker. Pro. 22:10 says, "Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease." He is a bad influence. How do you deal with him? You have to confront this guy with his attitude toward God and others. He will probably not listen at first, but instruction MUST be offered. Sympathy does not work here. Empathy and action are the key.

IV. The SINFUL MAN. (Proverbs 1:10-18)

We’re not talking about imperfection here because that would include ALL of us. We are talking about a deliberate character choice. This is someone who entices others to sin. They watch and wait for innocent people in order to cause them to stumble. How do you deal with him? You must be careful of your own conduct. DO NOT COMPROMISE. However, you have to be compassionate and loving. The sinful man needs to hear the Gospel, so he can be saved. And then, taught how to fear the Lord.

We may not be able to change a lot of things in life (i.e. eye color, hair color, etc.) but there is one thing we CAN change and that is our character. Your character is your own, personal choice. Proverbs 13:13-15 "Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard."

REAL LOVE

I John 4:7-9 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."

(Sigh!) It’s Valentine’s Day. (Sigh again) The day of "Love." A day filled with the exchange of lovey-dovey cards, flowers, gifts, chocolates (my personal favorite) and even marriage proposals. (Aw,...sigh again,... maybe even shed a tear and sniffle) What a sweet day for lovers every where!

Below is a story about REAL LOVE. I am posting it for a generation of people (both young & old) who have NO IDEA what TRUE LOVE is. *************************************************************************** It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 a.m., when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation.

asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life."True love is neither physical, nor romantic.True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. (story is copied)

I John 4:10-11 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

WHAT'S THE PURPOSE?

Acts 12:1-5, " Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." I. Purposeful Persecution. Herod is one of the meanest kings we read about in the Bible. When I read about him and see how jealous he was of the Christians and how he enjoyed seeing their suffering (and watching the Jews enjoy it too) he reminds a little bit of Hitler. Here in Acts 12, he kills James, the brother of Jon, and then imprisons Peter, just for the fun of watching the reaction of the people. Even though he is mean, he apparently believes, somewhat, that the God the Christians speak of is powerful because he places "four quaternions of soldiers" around Peter. (V.4) Amazingly enough, Peter slept. Peter had a peace that allowed him to sleep while chained between two soldiers. II. Purposeful Prayer. (12:5-9) The Bible tells us that "prayer was made without ceasing" by the church, for Peter. (V.5) These folks wanted Peter out of jail so bad that they prayed without ceasing! The bad thing is, that while they were praying for Peter’s release, they didn’t really believe it was going to happen. As we read on in chapter 12, the Lord comes to Peter and removes his chains, and tells him to get up quickly! Then he tells Peter to gird himself, clothe himself, and follow him. Peter did exactly what he was told, although he thought he was dreaming. There is a lesson there you know. God can release you from whatever is keeping you captive, but you have to trust him, properly gird yourself, and follow him. But I’ll save that for another time.:-) III. Purposeful Persistence.(12:10-16) Peter comes to the door where the church folk are praying and knocks. There is a servant girl, named Rhoda, who is so excited at hearing the sound of Peter’s voice that she forgets to let him in! That is kind of cute when you think about it. Here she is in the midst of all these people who are praying for Peter’s release and then she hears his voice at the door and is so happy she forgets to open it! Sadly though the very people who were praying didn’t believe her. They thought she was nuts! But she persisted until they finally went to the door to see. And there he was! That is so like we Christians today. We tell people that prayer is the most powerful tool we have in life, and yet we ourselves don’t believe it. IV. Purposeful Preaching.(12:17-18) Peter shares all that the Lord has done for him and then tells them to go out and spread the word. And while they did, there was quite a stir going on down at the jailhouse. That would have been a fun thing to watch to, I think. Can you imagine what they thought? I mean two of those soldiers fell asleep with Peter chained to them and when they awoke, he was gone! All the while the church folk are out spreading the word of God and telling of Peter's miraculous release. V. Purposeful Proclamation.(12:19-24) Herod thought more of himself than he ought to have. He killed the soldiers that he thought had lost Peter. Soon after he arrays himself in royal apparel and sets himself up on a throne and gives a great speech. It was so good the people called him "a god." And immediately the Lord smote him. The Bible says that it was because he didn’t give God the glory. And after Herod’s death "the word of God grew and multiplied." Sometimes a little persecution can be good for us. If we remember to keep ourselves in the word of God and pray without ceasing, maybe we would see our shackles released, our prison doors opened, and the preaching of the word multiplied.